Trust No Man

If I Fall For You I'll Never Recover

ELIZABETH'S P.O.V.

Where was he taking me? Somewhere secluded? Somewhere where no one could hear my screams? Somewhere to hurt me? I erase these thoughts from my mind. No that can't be. He is different. I know it. I'll take his word for it for now. He hasn't forced me to do anything. If all he wanted was sex he would've accepted my offer when we first met. Even if he tried something I don't think I would stop him. I might reject it for a little, but eventually give in. If he asked nicely. There would be no need for force. It would probably end up an exiting memory to look back on. My thoughts got caught up in sleeping with him. What it would be like. Gentle. Light touches. Nothing ruff or aggressive. Just two people enjoying the embrace of each others touch. Something I always wished to experience, but haven't. I got lost in my thoughts the whole car ride. Xavier jerked me out of them when he said,"You wanna get out the car?'' We got out. I look around. We were at a lake surrounded by trees and plants. There was only a small parking lot in front of the lake. There was a pier that looked on top of the lake. The lake itself was beautiful. being almost clear all the way to the bottom. It was a quiet secluded place alright. There was a faint sound of crickets. I stood in front of the car. Xavier was a few feet in front of me with his arms wide open like he was presenting something. He had a slight smile on his face. "Well?" He said. His voice echoed in the dome like place. His face turned upset when I didn't respond. "You don't like it." He stomped toward the car with anger. He reached the driver side and said,"Come on let's go." He says. I run and stand in front of him. "No. Lets stay. I like it." I admit. He looks at me with hope. "Really?" He asks. "Yes. I like it because the trees remind me of your eyes. I really like your eyes so I like the trees." I say. Admitting more than I was willing. By this time me and Xavier were face to face, nose to nose. Since we were so Close to each other we had our Arms wrapped around one another. We just looked at each other with big goofy smiles on our faces. I closed my eyes and our lips touched. I didn't realize how cold I was until he pulled away. He grabbed me hand and pulled me to the pier. Still dazed from the kiss, I follow. He takes off his socks and shoes. Followed by cuffing his pants to his knees. He stares at me. Oh, I'm supposed to do it too. So I do. I take of my heels and hold up the bottom of my dress. He sat on the edge of the pier and let his feet dangle and enter the water. I sit beside him and hold the bottom of my dress up. The water was warm. It was still summer. Only for two more months though. It was June 26. It was a little chilly from time to time but nonetheless still summer. I was cold. I began to shiver. Xavier took off his blazer and laid it upon my shoulders. I then scooted closer to him. Wanting his warm embrace as well. He put his arm across my shoulders. I leaned on him. And so we watched the lake and moved our feet gently threw the water. All was silent. And for a while I savored that moment on the pier. With the small silver fish swimming around my toes. The almost crystal clear lake. The trees that were Xavier's eye color. The smell of roses in the near distance. It was the best time of my life. Xavier interrupted the silence.

XAVIER'S P.O.V.

"Why didn't you want to talk about your childhood at the restaurant?" I asked her. I pondered on this question for a while. She breathed in heavy beside me. She then rose and sat on her own. She played with her fingers and looked down in the water. "Well, my childhood really wasn't the best time of my life." I could tell it bothered her. But I pressed on. I wanted to know. "What happened?" I ask hoping she'll say more. She stayed silent. I knew this was probably hurting her on the inside. I realized that I had gone too far. "It's okay if you don't want to say." I say. I put my hand on her shoulder. "No, I should. It would be nice to tell someone for a change why I'm so messed up." She admits. "Your not messed up." I say. Jeesh was her past that bad? "Well I lived with only my mom and brother. We lived in Nevada. My dad walked out on us after I was born. He said he couldn't handle taking care of two kids. So it was just us three. Then when I was about 11 I was walking with my brother to the store to get some things for my mom. My brother told me to wait outside and not to move. I should have listened to him. Then a man came up to me and offered candy. When I was growing up they didn't have the whole stranger danger thing so I took the offer. He brought me into the back of a van that was parked right in front of me. I thought I could get some candy and just go right back to my spot. Then he pushed me to the Floor of the van. I banged my head on something and was dizzy. I couldn't find my footing and laid there helpless. He stuffed a dirty rag in my mouth to cover up my screams. The man was smoking a cigarette while he stripped my skirt, tights and underwear down. I tried to fight, but he was too strong. He leaned his face next to mine. His breathe smelled like alcohol. He began touching me. His hands.... fingers touching me however he pleased." She sounded angry like she was going to explode. I was scared to touch her. She continued with tears rushing down her face. "I spit out the cloth and I screamed. From his dirty touch and the cigarette was burning my skin." She points at the burn mark on her thigh that I noticed earlier. She never looked up. Just stared at the water. She continued. "My brother then opened the doors and pulled the man off of me. I quickly pulled my underwear and skirt back up. The guy from the store had grabbed my attacker and cuffed him. The police were on the way. I got out the van and sat in the side walk. Shivering. I felt so dirty. A million showers couldn't clean it off. Nick held me until our mom got there. When she did the police took us to the station where they made me repeat the story over and over and over." She clenched her teeth. "When I was finally able to go home and the man was promised to be in jail for the rest of his life I cried. I cried for hours while my mom cradles me in her arms. Even when I was in the tub scrubbing myself so hard. I wanted any trace of him gone. That didn't work. So I just cried myself to sleep everyday for six months. And had nightmares. It was the worst thing. Since then my brother has always stood by my side. No one knows me better than him. He's the greatest. And it only got worst. I got pregnant at sixteen. My boyfriend didn't want it so he left me. Then my mom died and the stress and pain from the lost caused my miscarriage. Men just have never been good to me."she finishes off.

ELIZABETH'S P.O.V.

I continue to speak. "I don't trust men." Xavier looks at me with a little hurt in his eyes. I lean into him again. I felt safe with him. Like when I'm with my brother. I don't feel like he'll hurt me. I speak again. "But I trust you." Xavier continues to cradle me and says,''I would never hurt you." I believe him. He hasn't done anything for me not to. I look up at him. Our eyes meet. His hand lifts to wipe a tear from my face. I didn't realize I was crying. I lay my head on Xavier's shoulder and just melt into him. My body fitting with his like a puzzle piece. His body having the right little notches for me. He knew me now. He knew my story. Something I've come so far from. Eventually, we leave the lake, but not without me promising to come back. We drove back to the hotel. I watched him drive again. I stare at the only man that doesn't hurt me besides my brother. I find myself fighting the feelings. My mind telling me to not trust any man and my heart saying it's okay to trust him. Sometimes my heart was stupid. Like when it thought Kevin would stay after the pregnancy. My mind isn't dumb. It's smart. It's kept me safe and sound for a while. I don't know what to believe. He already knows my story. He wouldn't want to hurt me after knowing that. Or would he? Manipulating me for my weakness. For now I won't worry. It's only the first date.

We arrive at the hotel and he walks me to my room. "Goodnight. I hope you have sweet dreams." He says. "Only if there about you."I say. We both laugh. When the laughter stopped I said,''Thanks for tonight. It was really nice. I loved it." "Your welcome.'' He said. I gave him a kiss on the cheek. To think I kissed his lips twice today. We both said goodbyes and he left and I went in the suite. Nick was waiting on the couch. "Well how was it?" He said. I knew tonight was just as important to him as it was for me. I told him everything. I always did. He was the last person I had so keeping secrets would just make us drift apart. I also liked to know that someone knew everything about me. I didn't really have close friends. But my brother was always there to talk to. I loved him for that. Then I looked over at the clock. It was 12:30. That was a long date. We must have been sitting at the lake for two hours. In the end , I enjoyed it. I couldn't have asked for it to have gone any better. Nick thought it was a nice date.

I went to my room and changed into my pajamas. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I was exhausted.